underpay
|un/der/pay|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˌʌndərˈpeɪ/
🇬🇧
/ˌʌndəˈpeɪ/
insufficiently compensated
Etymology
Etymology Information
'underpay' originates from Middle English, combining 'under-' meaning 'below' and 'pay' from Old French 'paier', meaning 'to pay'.
Historical Evolution
'underpay' evolved from the Middle English term 'underpaien', which combined 'under-' and 'paien'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to pay less than required', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to pay less than what is due or deserved.
The company was found guilty of underpaying its workers.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45